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My obsession with finding and eating good food knows no boundaries, and I’m glad that I have friends who share an affinity with my quest! If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know that when Michael comes to town, my expertise on Toronto fine eats is put to the test. This weekend’s challenges was Indian cusine. I had eaten at quite a few Indian restaurants in the GTA but none that has floored me. I pulled out all stops asking all my Indian and Pakastani friends for ideas of authentic Indian cuisine. One restaurant keeps getting mentioned: Lahore Tikka. I knew I had to embark on this culinary adventure

I had to do some pre-adventure reconnaissance. A quick internet search yielded all positive rave reviews. I particularly enjoyed a review by SpotLightToronto.com, especially because there were pictures! There are many other promising reviews on SpotLightToronto.com, that will be sure to keep me busy in the future.

The SpotLightToronto review is spot on with all their details about Lahore Tikka. I won’t bother to rehash the same details. There were four of us on Saturday night, Michael, Allison, Rose (Michael’s cousin) and myself. Walking through the trailer doors, I was greated with a cafeteria style setting with loud Indian dance music. Lahore Tikka was still trying to build their own 2 storey restaurant building and the trailer setup though not inviting, was not why we were there.

We found as quiet a spot as we could. Though I like the music, I didn’t want it blaring in my ears. While waiting for our tables, I was looking on with curious eyes at the kitchen pictured in the SpotLightToronto review. The chefs were making Nan bread by putting them into an oven. I love Nan! Nan is like pita bread but so much better!

All food had to be ordered from the front counter, after selecting a cross-section of dishes, I went to the counter and got a number to display for our table. This would be how the waiters will deliver the food to us. I was sure the owners and staff had a sense of humour because they gave me number 88 – the lucky number of choice for Chinese patrons!

The four of us gorged ourselves with an enormous amount of food, eaten on paper plates with our plastic forks and knives. We were wondering why the tables were so messy after people finished eating, the answer was apparent as they carried iron plates overflowing with rice and we tried to dig in. There was so much rice that there was no way you could start eating without spilling any of this onto the table. Was it being messy? I just viewed it as having fun with your food!

Here’s a list of what we got and a brief assessment:

• 2 chicken kabobs, 2 lamb kabobs (I highly recommend the lamb kabobs)
• 4 nan bread (we ordered 2 initially but couldn’t get enough!)
• vegetable mixer sizzler (mixed assortment, chick peas and spinach were my favourite; eaten with Nan bread)
• butter chicken (excellent! chosen as a standard measure of Indian restaurants)
• lamb khori (the lamb dishes here have no lamb smell or after taste at all; a definitely delight)
• chicken tikka (one of the best tikka dishes I’ve ever had)
• chicken bryani rice (I love bryani rice, could eat it forever)

Whew! That was a mouthful, and believe me; I was full and satisfied when it was all over. I was more pleased to see all that was only $69 for 4 people before tips. We experienced a real good representation of various Indian cooking styles, and we were also treated to some impromptu drumming by the waiter-turned drummer. (He needs a bit more pratice in my opinion!)

We went up the cash to pay for the food, brimming with satisfaction and smiling ear to ear. I got to chat with the owner who informed me that they plan to finish the new building in April 2006. I can’t wait! The last thing to do was to have some of that home-made ice-cream served on a chopstick! We all had the almond vanilla posicle, and it helps to cool us down after all the spicy food. It was a treat to find an almond at the bottom of every popsicle.

The final word on Lahore Tikka is that you should try it! If you love Indian food, you would be dissappointed! The food are spicy but not hot annoying spicy, the spices serve to create the wonderful smorgasboard of flavour. Some dishes may be a bit greasy, but the health-conscious should put it aside for one day to enjoy one of the best Indian restaurants in the GTA!